Around Town

Artists Talk About Their Works on the Watertown Community Sculpture Walk

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Residents and artists take a stroll along the Watertown Community Sculpture Walk, led by the Tuba Guy. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

An enthusiastic group of art lovers took a stroll on a warm spring afternoon to hear about the newest additions to the Watertown Community Sculpture Walk from the artists themselves. Four new pieces joined the first four sculptures installed in 2023. The works were selected by the Watertown Public Arts & Culture Committee from the artists applying to be a part of the exhibition. Committee Chair Roberta Miller thanked everyone who came out, including the Tuba Guy, Zachariah Hickman, who led the procession along the path between Whites Avenue and Waverley Avenue, across Main Street, and down to Howard Street.

Around Town

MassDOT Holding Meeting on Parking Around Newton Corner & Transportation Alternatives

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The following announcement was provided by MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing it will be hosting the first working group meeting for the Newton Corner Long Term Planning Study. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 22, at 10:30 a.m., in person at the Newton Free Library, at 330 Homer Street in Newton. At this meeting, the Study Team will present the background and review the study area, draft goals and objectives, and the evaluation criteria for the alternatives to be developed later. The Newton Corner Long-Term Planning Study will develop and analyze transportation alternatives to improve the Newton Corner I-90 Interchange, located at Exit 127. Building on the MassDOT Highway Division’s Newton Corner Improvements Project to implement short and mid-term improvements, this study will consider long-term means to improve safety, congestion, accessibility, mobility, connectivity, quality of life, and climate resilience in the area.

Around Town

Square to be Dedicated to Veteran Killed in WWII as Part of Watertown’s Memorial Day Week

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Along with the traditional Memorial Day Parade, Watertown will have some special events in 2024, including the dedication of a Hero Square and the celebration of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1105’s 100th anniversary. Hero Square

On Monday, May 20 at 2 p.m., the intersection of Bigelow and Nichols avenues will be dedicated to Vincent Ranucci, who was Killed in Action during World War II. Ranucci attended the Watertown schools and joined the U.S. Army in June of 1942. He was deployed in the European Theatre. On February 2, 1944 he was awarded the Purple Heart for the wounds received in action resulting in his death.

Around Town

Watertown Housing Hosting Community Meetings on Willow Park Redevelopment Project

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An illustration of the proposed redevelopment of the Watertown Housing Authority’s Willow Park property. The Watertown Housing Authority will host a pair of community meetings about the planned redevelopment of the Willow Park property. One will be in-person and the second will be a virtual meeting. The Watertown Housing Authority provided the following information:

Notice of Project Community Meeting

The project applicant will be hosting Public Information Meeting(s) as required by the Watertown Zoning Ordinance. This notice is for the required community meeting that is required prior to formal application.

Around Town

What to Expect at Next Watertown Square Meeting, Manager Will Also Discuss Zoning on Prior Day

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The redesign of Watertown Square will be discussed on June 12. (Photo by City of Watertown)

(NOTE, May 24, 2024: They day and location of the Watertown Square meeting has changed and has been updated in this article)

The draft of the Watertown Square Area Plan will be discussed at a meeting on June 12, but prior to that City Manager George Proakis will delve into the topic of zoning during a live and interactive show on Watertown Cable. Watertown Square Meeting

The meeting focused on Watertown Square will take place on Thursday, June 13 beginning at 6 p.m. It will take place at the Watertown Middle School Auditorium. Present at the meeting will be both the City Council and the Planning Board, said City Council President Mark Sideris. He said it may be the first of multiple meetings on the Watertown Square Area Plan, which includes not only the redesign of the main intersection, but also where the City will allow housing to be built by right to meet the requirements of the MTBA Communities Law, as well as form-based zoning which will determine how future developments will look.

Around Town

Group Seeking to Pass Nuclear Disarmament Resolution Showing Film at Next Meeting

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:

The Peace and Security Working Group of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment continues their efforts to petition the town to pass a nuclear disarmament resolution with an event this Saturday. On May 18 at 4 p.m. (Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church, 80 Mt. Auburn St.) the group will hold an event entitled “How Watertown Can Build Community to End Nuclear Weapons.” Besides open discussion and reflections from the organizer, Lillian Koizumi, the meeting will feature music by Todd Gross and the film, “The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons.” The continuing quest follows the points outlined by the organization Prevent Nuclear War (preventnuclearwar.org) and comes three months after an online presentation entitled “Let’s Pass a Back from the Brink Resolution in Watertown!” The speakers were local leaders from such organizations as International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Pax Christi Massachusetts.